Depolarizing composition



Feb. 26, 19%. v

C. HAMBUECHEN DEPOLARI Z ING COMPOS'ITIN Filed July 28. 1921 lli',

rter orarie CARL HJHEUECHEN, OF NE YORK, N. Y., SSIGNOR TO lUNION CARBIDE AND CARBON RESEARCH LABORATORIES, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DEPOLARIZING COMPOSITION.

Application led July 28, 1921.

T0 all whom 'it 'may concern.:

Be it known that I, CARL HAMBUECHEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, the county lof New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Depolarizi ing Compositions, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to depolarizers for electric cells and has particular reference to improvements in molded depolarizing mii; compositions.

ln dry cells of the type in which the de polarizeris molded about a carbon rod to form a mix bobbin, it is usual to guard against the crumbling of the mix by coating the hobbin with an adhesive material or by wrapping it in a fabric. Adequate surface protection of this nature is essential, because jarring and softening by the electrolyte mayotherivise result in partial disintegration of bobbins having the composition nosr standard. Particles so detached are likely to come into contact with the zinc electrode, causing harmful local action. l have discovered,- further, that the current output of cells having;r mix bobbins of the type referred to is adversely affected by the jarring incidental to handling, shipping, and the like. Even Where there is no apparent disintegration, the lack of adequate coherence Within the mix bobbin may cause tissuring or other physical changes which increase resistance and lower depolarizing efficiency. i

it is an object of my invention to provide bobhin of increased stability, both with regard to surface erosion and to changes in internal structure which resultJ in lowered amperage. rlhis object is attained by bonding the particles of the mix composition with a fibrous material, such as asbestos, in a. manner more fully dcscribed hereinafter.

The accompanying drawing illustrates onetype of cell in which my invention finds advantageous application. In this drawing,

Fig. 1 is a. vertical section through the cell, and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bobbin.

Reference numeral l indicates a cylindrical Zinc container elect-rode of ordinary s, carbon electrode, and 3 and l coniector Wires depolarizing composition.

Serial No. 488,180.

5, containingr a fibrous bonding agent, surrounds the carbon electrode 2. Paper caps `6 and 7 may be fitted over the ends of the lare not essential for the success of the presentinvention. A disk 8, oit cardboard or the like, cucircles thc carbon rod and lies adjacent the top of bobbin llxcitant paste 9 occupies all of the annular space between the depolarizer and the Zinc conA tainer, except a small portion Serviuj` as an air chamber 10. A seal 1l closes the cell.

The mix bobbin 5 may be made up in the usual manner, except for the incorporation of the bonding material, I prefer to distribute somewhat less than 1% by' weight of asbestos fiber throughout the depolarizing mix composition, but the proportion muy be considerably varied according to the nature and degree of subdivision of the mix particles, the size and service requirements of the cell, or othei conditions. As a specific illustration of one of the ways in which the invention may be advantageously used7 about 11"@ by weight ot asbestos liber is intimately mixed with a depolarizer composition comprising finely divided pyrolusite and coke in approximately the ratio 2:1, prepared by being milled vtogether as described in the application of lV. R. Clymer, Serial No. 410,923, filed September 17, 1920. Either long;V or short fibered asbestos may be used, but the latter is preferable.

My invention is not limited to manganese dioxid and carbon compositions,'but is applicable broadly to the preparation of bonded depolarizcrs from any suitable reducible substance. Other fibrous materials which are inert or have no harmful eti'eot upon thecell may be substituted for asbestos. For example, good results are obtained'by the use of cellulosic fibrous Inatcrials, such as Wood pulp or the filaments of cotton or linen. i

The permeability of the mix to electrolyte solution is increased by the presence of the fibrous material and the service characteristies of the cell are improved for this reason, as well as by the coherence due to the bonding of the mix particles.

Depolarizer compositions made up with a bonding agent as described may be tamped, molded to form mix bobbins, or otherwise suitably treated in preparation for use in either dry or Wet cells. Under ordinary conditions, Wrapping or coating of mix bobbins containing the ibrous binder is unnecessary, but sucn additional protectionmy be provided if desired. Various substitutions with respect to the proportions, manipulations and uses Specified by way of example above may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

claim:

1. A dry cell depolarizing composition comprising granular ingredients and containing n fibrous mnterinl serving as a binder.

2. rlhe invention according to claim l, in which ythe fibrous material is asbestos.

3. rThe invention accordingto claim 2, in which the asbestos is present in amount of about 32% by weight.

4. A dry cell depolarizing composition comprisingl a coherent body containing a fibrous material adapted to increase the stability of the body.

5. A permeable dry cell `depolarizing composition comprising carbon and man- ,qnnese dioxid, each in comminuted condition, and n fibrous material in ndmixture therewith and serving as a. binder.

-6. A dry cell comprisina metalcontaincr electrode, a carbon e ec'trode and a ssociated depolarizing mass therein, sind mass comprising a fibrous binding ingredient. y

7. A. dry cell comprising a vmetal container electrode, a carbon electrode therein,A

and a depolarizing mass associated With said carbon electrode and protected from disintegration only by a brous binding material incorporated in said mass.

i8. Process of making a depolarizing composition for use in dry cells, comprising mixing comminuted substances capable of acting us a depolarizer with a fibrous ma.- terial adapted to serve as a binder for such substances.

9. Process ofmaking a, depolarizing composition or use in dry cells, comprising mixing conductive carb-on and manfranese depolarizer, each in co-mminute'd,condition, with e. fibrous material, and forming the mixture into aJ coherent body in which the fibrous material serves as s. binder.

ture.

CARL HAMBUECHEN. I

dit

In testimony whereof, I affix my signa.- 

